RUSSELLVILLE, Mo. - Three first-time members have been elected to the Cole County R-1 Board of Education, according to unofficial reports.
Mark Schroeder received 273 votes, Rodney Edwards received 270 votes and Jamie Sullivan received 241 votes.
Incumbent Mark Thompson took 202 votes. Other candidates were Deanna Kenney with 75 votes and Steve Stanley, 71 votes.
"I've lived here my whole life; I like to stay involved with my children's education and with my community," Sullivan said.
A former elementary teacher and the mother of two, Sullivan said she hopes she can be a voice for the rest of the community.
"We have a good school and wonderful teachers and staff," she said. "I felt it was time for me to step up and take my turn."
The Russellville school district has experienced some budget cuts due to limited state funding. Sullivan said she hopes to be part of a solution to that growing crisis.
"I'm a "If it's broken, how can I fix it' kind of person," Sullivan said.
Schroeder had no comment, and Edwards was unavailable at print time.